The Seaman'S Companion
The Seaman's Companion.
fied inheaven! my ſpirit within me faith,Amen. Lord Jefus, ſaythou Amen.
THE
SEAMAN'S COMPANION :
Wherein the Mysteries of Providence, relating to SEAMEN, are opened ; their Sins andDangers diſcovered ; theirDuties prefled, and their feveral Troubles andBurdens relieved.
In fix practical and fuitable SERMONS.
To all Masters, Mariners, and Seamen ; especially such as belong to the Port of Dartmouth, and the Parts adjacent.
SIRS, YOUR ready acceptation of myformer labours for you, hath encouraged this ſecondand laſt endeavourofmine thiswaytoferveyou.
I have formany years been convinced ofthegreat uſe andneedyou have ofthe following diſcourſes :
But the motives that quicknedme to their publication at this time,were eſpeciallytheſe two :
First, The hand ofthe Lord hath gone forth with terror against you ; this wintermany of your companions are gone down to thebottom.
Such a doleful account ofſhipwrecks from every coast, and ſuch ſad lamentations as have been heard in almoſt everymaritimetown, cannot but deeply affect every heart with forrow and compaſſion,andhath engaged me inthis ſervice forthe remnant that is left.
Secondly, The ſeaſonableandprudent care his Majesty hath atthis time manifeſted for the regulation and preſervation of yourNewlandtrade, and encouragement ofyour honest induſtrytherein, hath alſo provoked me tohaften this defgn, for the regulation ofyour lives and manners, without which, all external means will fignifybut little toyourtrue profperity
This little manual contains theſumof your duty inthe ſeveralparts ofyour employments, andfaithfully difcovers the temptations and dangers attendingyou in them all. Upon which confiderationit is fitly ensituled,The SEAMAN'S COMΡΑΝΙΘΝ .
The Epistle Dedicatory.
AsGodhath caft my lot amongyou,ſohehathinclinedmy heart ſtudiouſly topromote your welfare.
Ihavebeen,bylong obſervation, convinced,that one principal cauſe of your mifcarriages, is theneglect ofGod inyouroutſets. Didyoupray more, you might expect to proſper better.
Indeed, ifthat Epicurean doctrine were true, that God concerns not himſelf about the affairs ofthis lowerworld,butleaves allthings tobe
ſwayedby the power ofnatural cauſes, your neglect ofprayer mightbe more excuſable : But, whilſt ſucceſſes anddiſappointments depend uponhis pleaſure, it cannot but be the moſt direct courſe you can ſteer to ruin all, to forget and neglect
God inyour enterprizes.
To cure this evil, and prevent the manifoldmiſchiefs that follow it, the firstfermon isdeſigned.
And ifthe Lordſhallbleſs it to yourconviction and reformation,I may then comfortably apply the words of Mofes to you,
Deut. xxxiii . 18. " Rejoice, Zebulun, in thygoing out."
You oftenhear the terrible voice ofGod in the ſtorms ; and are at your wit's end, not knowing what courſe to take, nor which waytoturn forſafety and comfort: And yet how foon areall thoſe impreſſions worn off? And thoſe mercies which (whilst new) were ſo affecting, after a few days become ftale andcommon.
I have, therefore, inthefecondfermon, laboured notonly to direct and fupport you in thoſe ſtraits, but have alſo endeavoured to fix the ſenſe ofthoſe providences upon your hearts, and inſtruct you how to make due improvements ofthem, by anſwering the ſeveral aims anddeſigns of them.
Ithath beenmuch upon myheart, towhat and how many temptations to fin you are expoſed inforeign countries, where lawful remedies are abſent, alluring objects preſent, and temptations exceedingly ſtrengthned upon you, by hopes of fecrecyand concealment: And,indeed, for aman, whofe heart is notthoroughlyſeaſonedwith religion, and awedby the fear of God, to converſe in ſuch places, and with fuch company, and notbe polluted with their fins, is, uponthe, matter, as greata miracle, as for the three children to come out ofthe fiery furnacewithout anhair ſinged, orthe smell offireupon their garments.- I have therefore prepared for you thebest prefervativefrom theſetemptations inthe thirdfermon, which the Lord make an effectual antidote toyour fouls against the corruptions that areinthe world through luft.
Ihave frequently obſerved the mischievous influence that ſucceſs and profperity havehad upon ſomeof you: Howthe
God of your mercies hath been forgotten, and his mercies
The Epistle Dedicatory.
made inſtruments of fin against him : How apt are men to afcribe all to their own wisdom, care and induſtry, as if God had no hand init? Thefourth fermon therefore leads up your thoughts to the fountain of all your good, and drops many veryfeafonable and neceſſary cautions uponyou, to keep you humble and thankful under profperity.
Andbecauſe men will not ownGod in their fucceſs, but facrifice to theirown net ; God often teaches them the evil of it, by ſadloffes anddisappointments: Yea, diſappointments ſometimes follow the beſt of men, and that in the moſt juſt and honestemployments.
To caution the former fort, and ſupport the latter,in fuch a cafe, I recommend thefifthfermon to your ferious confideration, not doubting, ifthe bleſſing ofGod go forth with it, but it may provea very feaſonable and usefuldifcourſe toyouinthat condition.
And, laſtly, becauſe it is ſocommon for feamen to forget themany mercies they have received in a voyage, when it is over, and God hath brought them to the havens ofdefire, and among their relations, I have, in the last fermon, inſtructed them in their duty, and laboured to work in ſuch a ſenſe of mercies upon their hearts, as may engage them toa due and thankful acknowledgmentofGod in all.
You fee, by this briefaccount, how honeft the deſign is in which I have engaged for you.
But Iam ſenſible, that the management isvery defective, itbeing diſpatched in haſte, and when my hands were filled with other work, and mybody cloggedwith many infirmities. But, ſuch as it is, I heartily devote it tothe ſpecial ſervice ofyour fouls, andremain
Yours, in all Chriſtian fervice,
JOHN FLAVEL.
DARTMOUTH, Jan. 21. 1675.
VOL. VI..
Ccc
[ 386 ] THE SEAMAN'S FAREWEL.
SERMON.
Acts xxi. 5, 6. Andwe kneeleddown on theshore, andprayed, andwhen we hadtaken ourleave one ofanotber, we tookJhip, andthy returnedhome again.
T HIS fcripture gives us an account of the manner of Paul's embarkingatTyre, inhis voyage for Jerufalem; and therein an excellent pattern for all that go down into the feas, todobuſineſs in the greatwaters.
Itis true, his buſineſs, inthat voyage,was not to getan eftate, but to witneſs tothe truths of Jeſus Chriſt, with the hazard of his life.
Manydifcouragements he met with inthis voyage, and not the leaſt at Tyre,where he metwith certain diſciples that ſaid tohim, by theSpirit, thathe should not goto Jerufalem,though, in that, theyfollowed their own ſpirit; buthe is notto be diſſuaded:
Like that noble Roman *, and upon amore noble account, •he judged it neceffarytogo,but notto live.'
The diſciples feeinghis unalterable refolution,exprefs theiraffections to him atparting, by bringing him to the ſhip,andthat with their whole families, wives andchildren,ver. 5. thereingiving him the lastmarkoftheir dear reſpects.
Inthis farewel, their Chriſtian affections are mutually manifeſted by two forts of actions,
Sacred Prayers and in Civil Viz. and Salutations.
1. Prayers ; thebest office one Chriſtian cando for another.
As prayer is thebeſt preface,ſo certainly it is the beſt cloſe to anybuſineſs or enjoyment : In whichprayerwe maynotethe place,poſture, and matteror ſcope.
First, The place ; it was upon theshore, the parting place near towhich the ſhip rode,waiting for Paul: And this was nounusualthingamongthem in thoſedays. Tertullian † tells
* Neceffeest utcom, non ut vivam.
Caeſarı † Per omne littus preces ad coelum mittunt.
Tertul. de Jejun.
The Seamen's Farewel.
us,"theyfenttheirprayers toheaven from every ſhore;" and elſewhere, hecalls them, orationes littorales, " ſhore-prayers."
So cuſtomary itwas forholymen, inthoſedays,tobetaken into the ſhip orboat from their knees, not from the tavern or ale-houfe.
Secondly, The poſture ; " they kneeled down." As all places, ſo all poſtures have been uſed in prayer.
Some have uſed onepoſture, andſome another; but this is thecommon andordinary poſture : Knees when they can(as an ingenious author ſpeaks) thenthey must be bowed.
Thirdly, The matter and ſcope ofthe prayer,which though itbe not expreſſed, yet may with great probability be argued from theplace and occafion, to be, as Eraſmus ſpeaks, Pro faufta navigatione, for a proſperous voyage, and divine protection. Heknew to what, and how many hazards oflife they arehourly expoſed, that border ſo near unto death, as mariners and paffengers at ſea do ; and therefore would not commithimselfto the ſea,'till firſthehadfolemnlycommitted himſelftoGod, whoſe voice the winds and ſeas obey : Nor washe willing totake hisleave ofhis dearfriends, until hehad pouredout his heart toGod with them, and for them, whoſe faces he might never ſeeagain inthis world,andengaged their prayers alſo for him.
2. As their affections were mutually manifeſted by this facredaction, prayer ; ſoby civil ones too, affectionate em braces andfalutations. " When we had taken our leave one
" of another."
Salutations were uſed amongtheJews,both at theirmeeting and parting.
This latter conſiſted in words andgeſtures ; the uſual words were, "The Lord bleſs you,"
Ruth ii. 4. " Peace be unto thee. Gracebe with you," &c.
Thegeſtures were kiſſing each other. Theſe were kiſſeswhich a Cato might give, and a Veſtal receive.
In both theſe, viz. their prayers for, andſalutations of, each other, they manifeſted their Chriſtian affections mutually, but eſpecially by their prayers atparting.
Hence note, Doct. Those that undertake voyages byfea, had neednot only topray earnestly themselves, but also toengage the prayers ofother Christiansfor them.
They that part praying, mayhope to meet again rejoicing ; and thoſe deſigns which arenot prefaced with prayer, cannot. wind up with ableſſing.
There are two forts of prayer, patedand occafional.
Statedprayer is our converfingwithGod, either publicly, Ccc2
The Seaman's Farewel. privately,or ſecretly, attheconſtantſeaſonsallotted for it, in the returns ofevery week and day.
Occafional, is the Chriſtian's addreſs toGodat anytime upon extraordinary emergencies, and calls of providence ; or, whenwe undertake anyfolemn buſineſs, (and what more folemnthanthis ?) andthenthe chiefmatter and ſcope ofprayeristobeſuitedto the preſent occafion and deſign inhand; ofthisfort is that I amhere to ſpeak Now in opening the point, Iwill shew, (1.) Whatthoſe ſpecial merciesarethat feamen ſhouldpray for, when theyare to undertake a voyage.
(2.) What influence prayer hath upon thoſe mercies, and how it must be qualified for that end.
(3.) What aid and aſſiſtance the prayers ofother Chriſtians maycontribute to theprocurementof them.
And thenmake application of all.
(1.) Wewill inform the feaman, what thoſe ſpecial mercies are, he ſhould earnestly pray for, when he undertakes a voyage.
Andamongstthoſe mercies tobe earnestly requested ofGod byhim, the firſt and principal is, the pardon offin ; a mercy which must makeapart ofevery prayer,andat this time tobe earnestlyfued for.
Guiltis thatJonah in the ſhip, forwhoſe ſake ſtorms, ſhipwrecks, and ruinpurfue it.
It is faid,Pfalm cxlviii. 8. " That the ſtormywinds fulfilGod's word." Ifthe word there ſpoken of, be the word of God's threatening against fin, as fome expound it, thenthe ſtormy winds, and loftywaves, are God's ferjeants ſent outwith commiffion to arreſt finners upon the fea, his water-bailiffs to execute the threatenings ofGod upon them in the greatdeeps. Hence thoſeexpreffions ofſcripture,Numb. xxxii. 23. " Be fure your
"finwill findyou out ;" andGen. iv. 7. " Sin lieth at the "door." Inboth whichplaces, the Spirit of God compares a man's guilt to ablood-hound, that purſues and follows upon the ſcent where-ever a man goes. And indeed our fins are calleddebts, Matth. vi. 12. Not that we owethem toGod, or ought to fin againsthim ; but metonymically, becauſe as pecuniarydebts oblige him tofufferthathath notwherewith topay, andexpoſe him to the danger of ferjeants and bailiffs whereever he ſhall be found ; ſo do our fins, in reference toGod, who hath reckoned withmanythousands of finners upon the ſea, there arreſtedthem by his winds andwaves which he ſent
Qut after them, andlaidtheirbodies inthebottom of the fea, andtheir fouls inthe bottom of hell. Oh! that is a diſmal
The Seaman's Farewel.
ſtorm, that is fent after a man, todrive foul andbody todeſtruction ! withwhat heart or courage can thatman godown into the deeps, andexpoſe himselfamongtheragingwaves and roaring winds,that knows God hath a controversywith him; and for ought he knows,the next ſtorm maybe ſentto hurry himtothejudgment-feat ofthe great and terribleGod ? Certainly, Friends, it is your great concern to get a pardon, and be at peacewithGod; athingſo indiſpenſible,that you cannothave lefs ; and ſo comprehenfive, thatyou cannot defire more. Iffin bepardoned, you are fafe, you needfearnoſtorms within, whatever you find without: Butwoetohim that finds atonce a raging fea, and aroaring confcience; troublewithout, and terror within; ship andhope finking together. You are privy to all the evils and wickedness of your hearts and lives.
Youknow what treaſures ofguiltyou havebeenheaping up all your days ; and think you when diſtreſſes and ex-* tremities comeuponyou, confcience will be as quiet and ſtill, as it is now ? No,no, guiltwillfly inyour facesthen, and ſtop your mouths. O therefore humble yourſelves at the feet of Godfor all your iniquities ; apply yourſelves to the blood of fprinkling; pray, and pleadwith God for remiflion of fin; withoutwhichyou are in a woeful caſe to adventure yourſelves atfea, to thoſe eminent perils of life.
(2.) Another mercy you are earnestly topray for is, That the prefence ofGod may go with you,Imean not hisgeneral prefence, which fills the world; that willbe with you, whether you pray for it or no; but his gracious ſpecial prefence, which was that Moſes ſo earnestlyſuedfor inExod. xxxiii. 15.
" Ifthy prefence go not with me, carry us not hence." He and the people were now in a waste howling wilderneſs, butbound for Canaan, that earthly paradise ; yet you fee, he chuſes rather tobe in a wilderness withGod,than in aCanaan withouthim: and no wonder, for this gracious preſence of God, as to comfort, is all that a gracious foul hath, or defires tohave in this world; and as to ſecurity and protection from dangers, it is the only asylum, ſanctuary, and refuge in the dayoftrouble. Ifthe prefence ofGodbe gracioufly with us, it willguardtheheart againft terror in the moſt imminent diſtreſs, as you fee, Pfal. xxiii. 4. " Yea, though I walk thro
" the valley of the ſhadow of death," (that is, through the moſtapparentand imminentdangers ofdeath *), " yet will I * Quamvis infumma mortis ipfius pericula incurram. Gloff
Philol, Sacr.
The Seaman's Farewel.
" fearno evil, for thou art with me." Andindeed there is no room for fear ; for with whomsoever God is in a gracious and ſpecial manner preſent, theſe three matchleſs mercies are fecured to that man.
First, ThatGod's ſpecial providence ſhallwatch over him inalldangers, Pfalm xci. 1, and 4. " He shall abide under the " ſhadow of the Almighty ; he ſhall cover thee with his
" feathers, and underhiswings ſhalt thou trust." As the hen gathers her brood under her wings, not only to cherish, but todefendthem from alldanger, foGod takes his people underhis providentialwings for their ſecurity.
Secondly, He appoints for them aguard of angels, whoſe office is to watch over and miniſter to them in all their ſtraits.
Sowe read, Plal. xci. 11. " He shallgive his angels charge " over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways." Many inviſible ſervices theydo for us.
Luther tells us the angels have two offices, Superius canere, & inferius vigilare; to ſing above, andwatch below.
Theſe are as a life-guard to that man with whom the Lord is .
Thirdly, He readilyhears their cries inadayofdiſtreſs, and is with them to ſaveand deliver them. So ver. 15. "He shall
" calluponme, and I will anſwer him, I willbe with him in " trouble, I will deliver him, and honour him." O what a matchleſs mercy is this ! how manytimes, when poorſeamen have ſeendeath apparently before their eyes, havethey cried, mercy ! mercy ! How ordinary is it for their eyes, on ſuch occafions, to add falt-water, where alas, there was too much before ? But now to haveGod withyou in ſuch an hourof ſtraits, to hear, ſupport, and deliver you ; O you cannot eftimate the worth ofſuch amercy ! Pray therefore, for it is a mercyindiſpenſably neceſſary for you; andſaytohim, asMofes, " Lord, ifthyprefence may not gowith us, carry us not " hence."
(3.) Athird mercyyou are ſpeciallyconcerned to beg of God, is, thatyou may be kept from the temptations to fin you will meet withwhen you areabroad inthe world. Thewhole world lies inwickedneſs, 1 John v. 19. Every place, every
employment, every company hath its ſuares and/temptations attending it : And you know you have corrupt natures, as muchdiſpoſed tocloſe with temptations, as tinder is to catch fire: So thatunleſs the preventing, reſtraining, and mortifying grace ofGod be with you, they willbut touch and take.
If therewere no devil to temptyou externally; yet ſuchacor-
The Seaman's Farewel.
Fuptheart meetingwith a fuitable temptation andoccafion, is enough toovercome you ; Jam. i. 14. " Every man is tempt- " ed,whenhe isdrawn away ofhis own lufts, and enticed."
Alas! you know not whathearts you have till temptations prove them ; andwhat comfort canyoutake in the fuccefs andprofperity ofyour affairs, be it never ſo great, ifyou returnwith confciences polluted and woundedwith fin. Hethat brings home a pack of fine cloaths, infected with theplague, hath noſuch greatbargain of it, how cheap foeverhe purchaſedthem. O therefore beg earnestly ofGod,thatyoumay be keptfrom fin ; pray thatyou benot ledinto temptation.
(4.) Pray for divineprotection in allthedangers and hazards towhich you ſhall be expoſed. Youknow not how foon your life and estate ſhallbe injeopardy : This night you may fleep quietly in your cabin, tonorrow youmay be tugging at the pump, and the next night take up your lodging upon a cold rock. How ſmartlydoth theapostleJames reprehendthe ſecurityoftrading perſons ; Jam. iv. 13, 14. " Go to now, ye that " fay, to-day orto-morrowwe willgo into fuchacity,andcon- " tinuethere ayear, andbuyand fell, andgetgain ; whereas
" youknow not what ſhall be on the morrow. For what is your life ? It is even a vapour, that appears for a little time,
" andthen vanisheth away." How easily can God daſh all yourdeſigns, and hopeful projects in one hour! You know you are everymoment as near death, as you are nearthewater, which is but a remove ofoneor two inches. How poor adefence is the ſtrongeſt ſhip against the lofty ſeas, and lurking rocks ? How innumerable are the accidents and contingencies in a voyage, which the moſt ſkilful navigator cannot foreſee orprevent?
They are, as the Pfalmiſt ſpeaks, at their wits end, Pfalm cvii . 27. But O how fecure and safe, amidst all dangers, is thatman whom the Lord takes intohis ſpecial protection ?
Andhewillnot ſhutout thoſe that ſincerely commit themſelves to him : The winds and feas obey his voice ; he can with aword turn the ſtorm into acalm, Pfalm cvii. 29. or order means for your preſervation, whenyou ſeem loft to the eyeof ſenſe andreaſon. Ihave read ofayoungman, thatbeingin a great ſtorm at ſea, was obſerved to be very chearful, when allthe reſt was as dead men ; and being asked the reaſon of his chearfulneſs, in acaſe ofſo muchdanger ? He replied,
Truly I have no cauſe to fear, for the pilot ofthe thip is my father.
O it is an unspeakable comfort when a man
The Seaman's Farewel. hath committedhimselfinto the hands ofGod, as a Father, and trusted him over all !
(5.) Pray for counſel anddirectionin all your affairs and undertakings, andlean nottoyour own underſlandings.
" I " know, OLord,(faith theprophet)thatthewayofman is not " inhimself, neither is it inhim that walks, to direct his
" own ſteps," Jer. x. 23.
Undertake nothingwithout aſking God's leave, and counsel. How many that have ſtronger heads than you, have miferably ruined themſelves and their deſigns, by trustingto their own prudence ? " Aman's heart
" (faithSolomon) deviſeth hisway ; but the Lord directeth " his ſteps," Prov.xvi. 9. We muſt ſtill reſerve the power of God's providence, faith onet; God would not have us too carnally confident. The Lordcanblaſt your enterprize, though managedwith never ſomuchwisdom andcontrivance.
You arenotonlyto look toGodas the author of success, but asthe director and guider ofthe action.
It isby his conduct and bleffing, that all things come topaſs. Ifyour deſigns ſucceed not, you are preſently ready to aſcribe itto ill fortune, and fay, you had bad luck;when indeedyou ruined ityourſelves, inthe firſt moulding of it, by undertaking ofitwithout afking counfel of God: " In all thyways acknowledge him,"
Prov. iii. 6.
(6.) Pray for fucceſs upon your lawful employments and deſigns, and own itto be from the Lord.
You have an excellentpattern inAbraham's fervant,Gen. xxiv. 12. " O Lord " Godof Abraham thy fervant,ſendmegood ſpeedthisday."
He reverences the fovereigntyofprovidence, and acknowledges ſucceſs to be a flower ofthe imperial crown ofheaven, and thebridle thatGod hathuponthe reasonable creature, todifpoſe ofthe fucceſs ofhuman affairs. I look on that buſineſs ordeſign in a fair and hopeful way to profper, wherein we have engagedGod to be with us, by aſking hiscounſel, and recommending the ſucceſs to his bleffing. These arethe merciesyou are topray for.
Secondly, Next I will ſhew youwhat influence prayer hath intothoſe mercies you are to pray for; and it hath much everyway.
To be ſhort, it hath a threefold influence into them.
+ Manton on Jude.
It is a robbery to uſe goods without the owner's leave. We forget to bid ourselves goodſpeed, whrenwedo not acknowledge God'sdominion. This isbut a piece of religions manners .
The Seaman's Farewel.
(1.) It is a proper and effectual means to obtain and procurethem.
God willhave every thing fetched out by prayer, Ezek. xxxvi. 37. "I willyetfor this be inquiredofbythe houſe
" of Ifrael, to doit for them." Godgives notour mercies for prayers, nor will he give them without our prayers.
This is the ſtated method inwhich our mercies are conveyed to us ; and therein the wisdom and goodness of God areeminently diſcovered. His wisdom in making us to ſee the author of everymercy in the way ofreceiving it, and ſecuring his own glory in the diſpenſing ofeverymercy: Hisgoodness to us, in fweetening every mercy this way to us, and raifing its value in our estimation.
Prayer coming between our wants and fupplies is a fingular means to raiſe the price of mercies with us, andengage us todue improvements ofthem.
Sothat it is an idle pretence for any to fay, God knows our wants, whether wepray or no ; and if mercies bedecreed for us, we shall have them, though we ask them not: for though God knows our wants, yet he will have us know them too, and ſenſibly to feelthe need of mercy. And though prayer be altogether needleſs to his information, yet it is very neceſſary to teſtify our fubmiffion : And though it istrue, ifGod have decreed mercy for us, we shallhave it; yet it is nottrue, that thereforewe need nottopray for it: For decrees exclude not the ſecondmeans, norrender the creatures duty unneceffary. "I " know the thoughts, that I thinktowards you, faith the Lord,
" thoughts ofpeace, and notof evil, to giveyou an expected " end. Then ſhallye callupon me, andye ſhall go and pray
" unto me, and I willhearkenuntoyou," Jer. xxix. 11,12.
So that it is plain, mercies mustbe expected in theway ofprayer,that beingGod's appointedway, and ſtated method in the difpenfingofthem.
(2.)As prayer hath influence into the procuringofourmercies, ſo it hath a fingular influence intothe ſweetening ofthem : no mercies ſo ſweet as thoſe that are received uponthe knee.
There is a twofold ſweetneſs mentaſte intheirearthly enjoyments : one is natural, and that thoſe that never eyeGod in them, may reliſh as much as others ; theother is ſpiritual, and ſupernatural, reſulting fromthe confideration ofthe wayin which, andthe end for which they are given: and I am confident, ſuch is the refreshing ſweetness of mercies coming in the way ofprayer, that they derive athousand times more ſweetneſs from the channel through which they come, than they have in their own natures. So that itwas rightly obſervedby
VOL . VI.
Ddd
The Seaman's Farewel. him that faid, A believer taſtes more ſweetneſs inthe con • monbreadhe eats at his own table, than another can do in the confecratedbread he eats atthe Lord's table.' And then,
(3.) Prayer hath afanctifying influence upon all our eujoyments, and therefore no wonder itmakesthem ſo ſweet: what you obtain this way,you obtain with ableffing, and that is the ſweetest andbest part ofany enjoyment.
So you find, 1Tim. iv. 5. every creature is ſanctifiedby theword ofGod and prayer. One mercy ofthis kindisbetterthan ten thouſand promifcuouſly diſpenſed in the way of common providence : bytheſeno manknows love or hatred ; but theſe ſurely come from God's love to us, and end inthe increaſe of our lovetohim. So that you fee prayer hath amanifold influence upon ourmercies : But it isnot any kind ofprayer that doth thus procure, fweeten and fanctify our mercies tous : fome mens prayers rather obſtruct than farther their mercies ; but if itbe theferventprayer ofa righteous man, directed by the rule ofthe word, to the glory ofGod, we mayfayoffuch prayer, as David ſaid of Saul's fword,and Jonathan's bow, it never returns empty*.
Thirdly, I shall fhew what aid and afſiſtance the prayers of others maygive tothe procurement of the mercies we defire; foryou fee this inftance in the text, it was the unitedjointprayers ofthe diſciples with Paul, that on this occafion was judged neceffary.
Now confidering prayer according to its uſe, andend, as a means of obtaining mercy from the Lord; the more diſpoſed, apt, and vigorous the means are, the morefurely and easily the mercies areobtainedwhichwe pray for.
There maybe much zeal, fervency, and ſtrength inthe prayerofa fingle faint : Jacob alone maywrestle withGod, and as a prince prevail ; but muchmore inthejoint united force ofmany Jacobs. Visimita fortior; if onecan domuch, many can do more. O whatmay not a bleſſed combination of holy and humble ſpirits obtain from the Lord! If one man's heart be dead and out oftune, another'smay be livelyand full ofaffection. Befides,Goddelights in thoſe acts ofmercy moft, by which many are refreſhed andcomforted ; andwhere there is acommon ſtock ofprayers going, like a common adventure inone ſhip, there the return ofprayer, like the return of ſuch a ſhip, makes many glad hearts. Certainly it is ofgreat advantagefor the people ofGod, to engage as manyas they can toprayforthem. When Dani- * Ifthe good ask good, it isa goodmanner, and foragoodend.
TheSeaman's Farewel.
elwastoobtain that ſecret from theGod ofheaven,Dan. ii. 17, 18. he makes uſe ofhis three friends to improve their acquaintancewithGod, and intereſt inGod forhim upon that occafion.
" Then Daniel went to his houſe, and made the thing " known to Hananiah, Mishael, andAzariah his companions,
" that they would defire mercies of the God ofheaven con- " cerning this ſecret." Some Chriſtians have greater intimacieswith Godthan others, they are ſpecial favourites in the court of heaven ; and what an advantage it isto be upon their hearts, when they are with God, judge ye.
I remember St.
Bernard having ſpoken ofthe due frames and tempers that Chriſtians ſhould ſtrive to work their hearts into, when they areengaged inthis work ofprayer, concludes with this requeſt,
Etquum talisfueris, memento mei. Andwhen thy heart (faith he) is in this temper, then remember me . Oh ! it is a fingular mercy tobe intereſted in theirprayers that are in ſpecial favour with God ! It is true, Jeſus Chriſt is the great favourite, for whoſe ſake all prayers are heard : and without his interceſſion, the interceffions of an Abraham, a Mofes, a Jacob, fignify nothing ; but in the virtue ofhis interceffion, the interceffions ofothers maybe fingularly advantageous to us. Job'sfriends weregoodmen, butyetthey must go to Job, andget his prayers for them, before God would be intreated for them, Job xlii. 8.
And,indeed, upon the contrary, it isa ſad ſignthatGodde. figns not to give us that mercy which he takes offourownheart, or thehearts ofothers from prayingfor. When he faith, Pray not for ſuch a man, or for fuch a mercy for him, the cafe then becomes hopeleſs, the mercy is ſet, and there is no moving it,
Jer. xiv. 11. But ifonce a ſpirit of prayerbe poured upon you, and upon others too in your behalf, you may look upon themercy as even atthedoor, andcount it as good as if itwere in your hand. And thus you fee what the mercies are you ſhouldpray for ; what influence prayerhath uponthem; and what aſſiſtance the prayers ofother Chriſtians may contribute to the obtaining ofthem; that ſo yourhearts may be excited and encouraged, not only toprayfor yourſelves, but to engage as many as you can to feekthe Lord foryou, as you fee Paul heredid,whenhe was undertaking hisdangerousvoyage.
In the next place I ſhall apply it.
Ufe 1. And, firſt, This mayſerve ſharply to reprove the generality ofour ſeamen, who mindeverything neceſſary to their voyage, except prayer, the principalthing ; who goout in voyDdd2 i
The Seaman's Farewel. ages without aſkingGod's leave or bleſſing. And here three forts ofperſons fallunder conviction, andjuſt rebuke.
First, Such as do but mockGod, and delude themſelves by heartleſs, deadand emptyformalities. Some there bethatdare not altogether flight and neglect prayers, butproforma, they willdo fomethingthemselves ; anditmaybeas a compliment, or, at moſt, as a customary thing, will defire the prayers of others: but, alas! there is no heartineſs or fincerity in theſe things ; they are no way affected with theſenſe oftheir own wants, fins, ordangers ; they neverunderstood the uſe, nature, orendofprayer. We blame theblindPapifts,and that juſtly, for their blind devotions,whoreckontheirprayers by number, and notbyweight; andtruly,there isbut littledifferencebebetween theirs, and ſome of ourdevotions.
It is † StAuguſtine's counſel, "Doyou learn to have in yourur hearts what 66 every one hath in his lips." O thatyouwould once learn to be in earnestwithGod! to pray as men that underſtand with whomyouhaveto do; and what great things youhave to tranfact with God! ah, myfriends,you may believe it, that ifever youhad felt theweight offinupon your confciences, andhad hadfuch fick days and nights or it, as ſome havehad,youwould not aſk a pardon ſo coldly and indifferently as you do.
Ifyou did but know the benefit ofGod'sprefence withyou in troubles, how ſweet it is ; or could but apprehendhow terrible a thing it is to be left ofGod, as Saul was, in thedayof diſtreſs, you would weep and make fupplication for his gracious preſence to go forth with you ; and would say, with Moſes, " If thy
" prefence may not go with me, then carry me not hence."
But, alas ! theſe things appear not to you in their reality and importance. And hence is all that wretched formality and deadneſs of ſpirit.
Secondly, It rebukes much more fuch as wholly flight and neglect prayer, as auſeleſs and vain thing; who undertakedefigns withoutprayer, not at all acknowledging God in any of theirways. And it isjuſtly to be ſuſpected, there are multitudes of fuch practical atheists amongſeamen, as well as other orders of men.
Poor men! my heart mourneth over you ; you are certainly a forlorn fet ofmen, who live withoutGod inthe world.
Itwas anciently faid, "he that would learn to " pray, lethim go tofea $:" But now,how long may a man
+ Difcite habere in corde,quam omnis homo habet in lingua.
Aug. in Pl. 32.
Qui nefcit arare, discat navigare.
The Seaman's Farewel.
beat fea, beforehehear a praying ſeaman! Letyour families from which you part, witneſs whatconfcience you have made to ſeekGod, as you have been here directed, beforeyour outfet: it is faid, Deut. xxxiii. 18. to the tribe ofſeamen,"Re
" joice, Zebulun,in thy going out." But in this cafewemay invertthe words, andſay, Mourn, O yefeamen, in yourgoing out. How deplorable a caſe is this ? Let your cabins witneſs what confcience you make ofthe dutyofprayer : you can talk and fleep there, butwhendidyou praythere ? You there hear the voice ofGod inthe roaring feas ; butwhen did Godhear yourvoice inprayer ? You feethe wonders ofGod inthe deeps, wonders of creation, and wonders ofpreservation ; butmean timeyou yourſelves are the greatest wonders thatare to be ſeen inthe ſea: men immediately depending uponGod for their lives, liberties, and eſtates, every moment, and notonce owning or acknowledging him by prayer.
The very * Heathens will riſe up injudgment against you, and condemnyou.
I remember Plato brings in Alcibiades aſking Socrates,How he ought to expreſs his reſolution and purpoſes ? To whom he thus anſwereth; " Before every un- " dertaking thou muſt ſay, IfGod will." And we know the eaftern nations wouldundertake nothing ofmoment, without firſt acknowledging Godby prayer. The Greeks σὺν Θεω, by the leave orbleſſing ofGod, is known to all. The Turks will condemn fuchas you are, for they fail not topray five times a day, how urgent ſoever their buſineſs be.
The blind and ſuperftitious Papiſts willcondemnyou,withwhomitis aproverb, Mass andmeat hinder noman. Oh! whither will you turn ?
Andwho ſhall comfort you,whentrouble comes upon you ?
Wonder not at croffes and diſappointments in your buſineſs; how can you expect it should be otherwise, as long as God is neglected, yea, diſowned ? Saynot, this isthe fruit ofillluck, but ofyour profane neglects.
Ifthe ſucceſs of all your bufineſs depends uponGod (as none but Atheists daredeny) then certainlythe directeſt and readieft courſe a man can take todeſtroyall, is to diſengage God bya ſinful neglect of him.
The moſtcompendiousway toruin, isto forget God, and caft off prayer. "Pour out thy fury (faith the prophet) uponthe hea- " thenthat knowthee not,andupon the families that callnot
" uponthyname," Jer. x. 25. Willnothingless thanextremity make you cry toGod? Wonder notthen, ifGod bring you
* Αλλά πως χρη γελειν, cui refpondet. Socrates. Οτι εαν Θεος εθέλης Plato inTimeo.
The Seaman's Farewel. unto that extremitywhichyour profaneneſs makes neceffary for your awakening.
Thirdly and lastly, How much fadder,and more deplorable, is thecafeofthoſe thatnot onlyneglectto callupon the name of Godbyprayer,butdo alſo woundhisnamethrough andthrough bytheircurſed oaths andblafphemies ? whoinſtead ofgoing onboardpraying, asPaulhere did,goonboard curfing, ſwearing,andblafpheming his great anddreadful name; not going from their bendedknees, but drunken ale-benches, to the ſhip.
Othe admirablepatience ofGod! O the power ofhis longfuffering! that ever that ſhip ſhouldſwim onehour above water,thatcarries ſuch loads of fin andguiltwithin it ! It isnoted inGen. iv. 26. in thedays ofSeth, " That thenmenbegan to " callupon the name ofthe Lord."
Some tranſlate ארקל theword invocation, or prayer, and ſome profanation ; thenbeganprofaneneſs in calling upon thename of the Lord.
In a mournful feeling of this dishonour done to God by it, Seth calls the ſon thatwas born to him in thoſe times, Enoch, or Sorrowful.
Sure Iam, however the wordbe here tobe tranſlated,there is avile generationinourdays, that insteadofcalling uponthe name ofthe Lordbyprayer, do call uponitprofanely, rending and tearing that greatand terrible name with the languageofhell.
Poorman ! withwhat hope orencouragementcan thoſe lipsofthine, in the day ofthy extremity, cry,Mercy! mercy !that have struckthrough the facred name ofGod ſo many times with blafphemy ! O that you wouldlay it toheart ! Othat thisdayGod would ſet your fins in order before you !
Is this a beginning that promiſes acomfortable iſſue ? Do you thus prepare yourſelves to meetdeath anddanger ? O my foul! come notthou into their ſecrets ! O let Godrather ftrike
me perfectly dead whilft I live, than afflict my soul througli my ears with theſe dreadful dialects ofthe damned.
Ufe. 2. In the nextplacethis point is exceeding uſeful, by way ofexhortation, to perfuade all men, and particularly feamen, to bemen ofprayer ; to imitate thatnoble pattern inthe text, and nolongerto live in the neglect ofaduty to neceffary, ſo ſweet, and ſo beneficial to them, as the duty ofprayer is.
Othat you did but know the excellency of this duty ! how would you give yourſelves unto prayer! As David ſpeaks,
Pfalm. cix. 4. Now to perfuadeyoutobe praying men, andno longer to live inthe neglect ofſo excellent a duty, I will offer theſe motives to your confideration.
Motive 1. God hathstiled himselfa God hearing prayer